GREEN BAY, Wis. — In a heart-wrenching finale that left Lambeau Field shrouded in silence, the Green Bay Packers watched their slim hopes of salvaging a tie slip away on a 64-yard field goal attempt that veered wildly left, handing the Philadelphia Eagles a gritty 10-7 victory on Monday Night Football.
Veteran kicker Brandon McManus, who had drained a 61-yarder earlier in his career, stepped up with the game on the line and the clock ticking down to zero. What followed was a shank so egregious it sparked an immediate torrent of backlash from fans on social media, with many labeling it among the most catastrophic misses in NFL history. The ball didn’t even flirt with the uprights—it hooked toward the sideline, prompting Eagles players to erupt in premature celebration before the pigskin had even bounced.
The Packers, now sitting at 5-3-1 after a season of tantalizing promise, had clawed their way back into contention in a defensive slugfest dominated by slop and errors. But McManus’ misfire encapsulated the night’s despair, turning what could have been an overtime thriller into a bitter postmortem of what-ifs.
A Miss That Echoed Through the Ether
Closer replays confirmed the nightmare: a clean snap from Anderson Hardy, a steady hold from punter Daniel Whelan, and no deflection from the Eagles’ rush. It was all on McManus, whose form has faltered alarmingly this year. The 33-year-old, who joined Green Bay on a one-year deal after a controversial offseason stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, knew the kick was doomed the instant his foot connected. His head dropped as the ball sailed harmlessly out of bounds, sealing the Eagles’ escape with their third straight win.
Fans, already on edge from head coach Matt LaFleur’s aggressive decisions—including passing on shorter field goal tries earlier in the fourth quarter—unleashed their fury on X. The platform lit up with memes, clips of past McManus blunders, and comparisons to amateur kicks gone awry. One viral post juxtaposed the miss with a 2015 shank against the Bengals, reminding followers of the kicker’s penchant for prime-time flops.
Here are five of the most brutal takedowns from Packers faithful and neutrals alike, each packing a punch with words that cut deep:
- “Worst game-tying field goal attempt in NFL history” — A Eagles fan’s gleeful autopsy, complete with skull emoji, that captured the collective cringe.
- “Proved in 4K he could not make it” — Highlighting the high-definition horror of the broadcast, this jab blamed LaFleur as much as McManus for the ill-fated call.
- “Shanked the potential game-tying 64-yard FG” — A deadpan stat line from a neutral observer, underscoring the extra-point make as cold comfort in the face of epic failure.
- “McManus trash ass can’t hit from 58” — Raw frustration from a fan pointing to earlier fourth-down gambles, arguing the miss stemmed from known weaknesses.
- “Get McManus off the fucking team” — The nuclear option, dismissing distance as an excuse amid a season of inconsistency that has tested every green-and-gold nerve.
These barbs weren’t isolated; threads overflowed with side-by-side videos of pee-wee league mishaps and Jets tailgate disasters that somehow looked more competent. One clip even showed a fan collapsing mid-kick, drawing parallels to McManus’ feeble push.
Embed X: https://twitter.com/NFL_Memes/status/1988100519408398838
A Season Gone Awry for the One-Time Reliable Boot
McManus entered 2025 with pedigree: a Super Bowl ring from his Denver Broncos days, where he was money in clutch spots. Last year in Green Bay, he converted 20 of 21 field goals, earning quiet confidence. But this campaign has been a regression to the mean—and then some. Through 11 attempts, he’s missed five, including an extra point earlier against the Bears. Injuries have compounded the issue, sidelining him briefly and forcing LaFleur to juggle options like rookie Anders Carlson.
The 64-yarder, his career longest by three yards, was always a tall order, especially in the chilly Lambeau breeze. Yet, with the rookie kicker available for shorter ranges, the decision to stick with McManus drew equal ire. “Why trust the guy who’s been ice-cold all year?” one poster lamented, echoing a sentiment that the front office might soon heed.
Eyes on the Meadowlands: Redemption Awaits?
The Packers limp into Week 11 licking wounds, facing a 2-7 New York Giants squad that’s lost six straight. At MetLife Stadium, Jordan Love and the offense will need to rebound from a pedestrian 217 passing yards, while the defense—stifling Jalen Hurts to just 10 points—builds on its grit. For McManus, Sunday offers a chance at exorcism, perhaps from closer range.
In the end, football’s cruel theater thrives on these dying-second daggers. McManus’ shank will haunt highlight reels, but the Packers’ story is far from over. As one less-charitable fan quipped amid the rubble: “There was an attempt.” In Green Bay, that’s sometimes all it takes to fuel the fire for the next fight.